Trump Administration Dismantles US Ability to Fight Climate Change

Reversal of scientific determination fuels concerns over extreme weather, pollution

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Trump administration has repealed the scientific determination that underpins federal greenhouse gas regulations, delivering one of the most dramatic reversals of U.S. climate policy. The move has drawn immediate outcry from environmentalists and other critics, who say it comes as climate change intensifies, fueling extreme heat, toxic algal blooms, and tornadoes across the Midwest.

Why it matters

This reversal of decades of scientific consensus shows a willingness to sacrifice the lives of Americans to boost the profits of the oil industry, according to critics. It upends numerous U.S. policies aimed at curbing pollution and protecting the public from the effects of carbon and other greenhouse gases.

The details

The Trump administration's move to repeal the scientific determination that underpins federal greenhouse gas regulations is expected to have far-reaching consequences. Environmental groups say it will undermine efforts to regulate carbon emissions and other pollutants, leaving the public vulnerable to the intensifying effects of climate change, including extreme weather events in the Midwest.

  • The Trump administration repealed the scientific determination yesterday.
  • The reversal comes as climate change is fueling extreme heat, toxic algal blooms, and tornadoes across Illinois and the Midwest.

The players

Sierra Club's Illinois Chapter

An environmental organization that has criticized the Trump administration's move as a "profound and utter rejection of decades of scientific consensus" that will "sacrifice the lives of Americans to boost the profits of the oil industry".

Jack Darin

The director of the Sierra Club's Illinois Chapter, who has spoken out against the Trump administration's decision.

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What they’re saying

“This is a really profound and utter rejection of decades of scientific consensus. It shows a willingness to sacrifice the lives of Americans to boost the profits of the oil industry.”

— Jack Darin, Director, Sierra Club's Illinois Chapter (Chicago Tribune)

The takeaway

The Trump administration's decision to dismantle the scientific foundation for federal greenhouse gas regulations represents a major setback in the fight against climate change, leaving the public vulnerable to the intensifying effects of global warming, including extreme weather events in the Midwest.